Fearless Practice

For anyone who is building their Canadian private practice, or is thinking about starting, one of the most helpful things that you can do is listen to other therapist's stories who have gone on this exact journey before you.  Learning from others is a great way to give you ideas, help you think things through, and see what might – and might not – work for you.  In this podcast episode, Amber and I...

What is your goal with your work? If you could set it up in the way that would best suit you and your long-term future ambitions, what would it look like? How can you create a work-life balance that is personalized to your life, needs, and desires?  One great way to learn is to listen to other people's journeys and stories. You may be in a similar place with your Canadian online private practice;...

Are you going into your master's degree knowing that you want to start a private practice as soon as you have graduated? Be assured – and inspired – that this is totally possible! With your master's degree and clinical supervision, you can be well on your way toward your Canadian private practice.  There are a couple of things you can do for your private practice while you are in grad school to bu...

Does your branding need a little refresher? When last did you make sure that your branding is consistent across all the branches of your business?  Branding is more than just the colors you pick or the layout of your website. It's the feeling that you want your clients to have when they interact with you or your business materials. To create cohesion and maintain professionalism while attracting y...

Social media is here to stay, but it doesn't have to be difficult for you to do.  There are enough people out there with all sorts of skills that you don't have to bootstrap it and do everything – frankly, it's better if you hire out and let someone do what they're good at so that you can focus on providing great therapy!  So, do you want to expand your Canadian private practice by connecting with...

What are the long-term benefits of raising your rates? Why does raising your rates ultimately help your clients as well as your work-life balance?  Many therapists are nervous about raising their rates and so continue to work for the same pay for years. Ultimately, raising your rates can make you a better therapist, and your clients will come to see that.  If you know that you want to raise your r...

Do you feel satisfied with your current work-life balance? Does your current work routine work for you, or does it feel a little misaligned with your rhythm? Are you wanting to shake up your work routine? I've been experimenting with changing my professional hours because everyone deserves to do the work they enjoy without having to sacrifice their mental, physical, or emotional well-being.  If th...

Do you want to make sessions available to the clients that you know need them the most? Have you often wondered how you can contribute to making therapy more accessible, but have the ethics left you feeling uncertain of how to do that?  The business world is loud with different ideas, tips, and tricks on how to "grow" your business and reach your audience, like the famous price-bundling marketing...

In the past, Dr. Marlene Taube-Schiff never imagined that she would one day create and own a thriving, online Canadian private practice. She worked full-time in hospitals and in Universities, content with her work and the way her professional life was laid out.  However, when covid began and new online options for therapy started, she realized that she wanted to try something different because whe...

I recently found out that Brighter Vision has started to create their websites on their own proprietary platform instead of on WordPress. This also means that if your Brighter Vision website was created on WordPress, any switch to a different Brighter Vision template will require you to move your website to their new proprietary platform (and off of WordPress). Proprietary platforms can make creat...

Have you been stalling on your private practice dream? What holds you back from starting your own Canadian private practice? What does the first step look like?  Whether you are concentrating on levelling up your marketing efforts, honing in on your niche, or launching a sustainable private practice, making an investment in that future can feel scary – but in reality it is completely doable. The m...

Are you ready to start your Canadian private practice but don't know how to build it? Are you looking for long-term successful solutions that can work on a tight budget? Are you searching for something else besides joining a group or a subscription plan to help you start private practice?  If any of these questions resonate with you, give this episode a listen. I know what it's like to want to bui...

Does your specialty include working with kids and families? Have you been interested in learning more about the play therapy modality? Can you build a successful private practice from the play therapy niche?  Put together a team of skilled and like-minded clinicians, hire a proactive and dedicated admin assistant, put up a website, and let the process develop. In some ways, the process is that sim...

What has been holding you back from launching your Canadian private practice? Which challenges have you been nervous about facing that you know others before you have accomplished? What can it take to help you to accomplish them too?  There are pros and cons of working in a steady job for another company or organization, and pros and cons of running your own Canadian practice. Neither option is go...

Have you considered bringing animals like dogs or cats – even goats! – into the therapy room? What does it take to become certified to offer this service? Did you know that chickens are one of the most popular therapy animals?  If you love animals and know that your clients do too, and you've heard about the benefits that animals can offer clients in therapy, then consider offering animal-assisted...

Have you ever felt stifled in your role as a therapist? Is there a way to branch out and still help people while letting your personality shine? Why is rest essential to success?  Some therapists have felt frustrated or held back from their clinical work because they want to let their personality and ambition grow with their business, while others have felt burnt out from doing work that does not...

Have you recently entered private practice? Are you looking for effective marketing strategies to boost your new Canadian private practice? How closely are you working with your values?  Starting anything takes courage, especially when it comes to putting your name out there as a counsellor in your community! Whether you are recently licensed or you have freshly completed your master's degree, it'...

Are you up to date with your CECs? Do you need some extra help? Do you want to know a great, quick, and professional way to get them while meeting other exceptional Canadian therapists?  CECs are important for all Canadian therapists to have, whether you work for someone else or if you run your own Canadian private practice. They help you to stay up to date with new research, develop yourself as a...

As a therapist – especially in private practice – there is much to know and to make sure to do in your everyday schedule, besides seeing clients. It can feel like a lot, so this is a quick, simple, and informative episode that you can keep on hand to make sure that you are staying within the guidelines while working towards your goals.  The don'ts  Avoid waitlists: Once you get busy enough that yo...

Does the change of seasons also create a change in your energy levels? Do you sometimes find it difficult to maintain a faster working pace in the colder months? Is there a way to work slowly and still effectively?   In these colder months when your energy levels can shift, it could be best for you and for your work to also adjust your pace, allowing you to continue doing great work without burnin...

Are you looking for ethical and effective ways to market yourself? Is there a fellow counsellor in your field that you want to recommend? Have you heard about the new Psychology Today feature?  Even though the endorsement feature on Psychology Today has been around for some time, they recently revamped it, allowing you to clearly showcase your endorsements and recommendations on your profile to po...

You might feel uncertain as to where to begin when it comes to marketing yourself on podcasts – it's something new! Even if you are a little nervous, it's easier, more lucrative – and more fun – than you might think. Being a guest and talking on someone else's podcasts or even starting one for your Canadian private practice are great, creative, and versatile ways for you to showcase your practice....

Have you been considering expanding your Canadian private practice? Can you counsel people who live in other provinces besides yours? What are the protocols?  Online counselling is here to stay, and many counselling therapists and clients alike prefer this system with its flexibility and the autonomy it can provide them. However, there are some important regulations to be aware of when it comes to...

Do you want to take insurance in your Canadian private practice? Are you feeling frustrated with managing your direct billing? What is the best way for small business owners to handle their energy and time when it comes to collecting payment?  Once you have your license number, it is much easier to be recognized by Canadian insurance companies as a provider. Unfortunately, a lot of plans don't rec...

Why is self-regulation necessary for Canadian counsellors? What would it take to maintain a bottom-up approach to regulation? Is it possible to join a regulatory body to maintain efficacy and ethics across your profession? Regulation might seem like a daunting world, but in reality, it is the tool that helps Canadian private practice owners to keep doing the best work that they can in the knowledg...